Arlington, MA

With the heating season quickly approaching, I thought it would be a good time to pass along some energy-saving tips to help you both indoors and out. Not only can you reduce your energy bill, but you can reduce your carbon footprint by following some simple, easy steps:

• Energy Star Lighting - Energy Star labeled light bulbs and fixtures are very energy efficient without sacrificing performance or design. Special promotions and rebates are also available at many home improvement and other select stores. You can also visit the Energy Star web site for more information or call 877-378-2748 for more details.
• Energy Star Refrigerator Rebate - if you're a Massachusetts resident, NSTAR is offering a $50 mail-in rebate toward the purchase of an Energy Star-qualified refrigerator. For more info on this program, visit the website listed above or call 877-ESTAR-4U.
• Cool Smart Central Air Conditioning - Now might be a good time to think of having central A/C installed (demand is very low right now!). Did you know that a properly installed Energy Star central air conditioning unit can save you up to 20% on your cooling costs? Think of it as investing for savings next summer! Again, for Massachusetts residents, NSTAR is offering a mail-in rebate of up to $600 for the purchase and installation of high efficiency central air conditioning units. Visit www.mycoolsmart.com or call 800-473-1105 for more information on this program.
• SmartStrips - Did you know many electrical appliances continue to draw electricity, even when not in active use? SmartStrips power strips sense when the power button turns off TVs and computers and will also automatically cut the power to other devices, such as printers, faxes, and stereo equipment. Neat, huh? Visit www.myenergystar.com for information on instant rebates available toward the purchase of SmartStrips.

These programs are designed to help you reduce your electric bill and help the environment at the same time. Why not give them a try? Visit my web site at Cyber Green Realty.com for more information or check out the following useful links:

• Green Life, Start a Green Living Now: A Green Living
• Massachusetts Solar Power and Solar Energy Rebates: SolarPowerRocks.com
• U.S. Department of Energy: Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

Week Ending 9/10/09

The average price per square foot for Arlington MA was $283, a decrease of 12% compared to the same time last year. The average sales price for homes, condos, and multi-families in Arlington MA for the period 8/10/09 to 9/10/09 was $411,196 based on 96 home sales. Compared to the same period one year ago, the average home sales price decreased 17%, or $85,260, but the number of home sales increased 71%.

There are currently 41 resale and new homes in Arlington MA (not including bank-owned or pre-foreclosure properties). The average listing price for single family homes for sale in Arlington MA was $589,342 for the week ending Sep 10. The average listing price for condos for sale in Arlington MA was $380,938 and for multi-familes it was $557,770 for the same period.

There are currently a total of 108 total properties for sale in Arlington MA (including bank-owned and pre-foreclosure listings), with 52 Single Family homes, 44 Condos, and 12 Multi-family homes currently listed.

If you’ve been on the fence about buying property in Arlington MA, now is a great time to make your move. Prices are lower than last year but the inventory is also lower, which will start to drive prices up. Get in now before it’s too late!

-TMC

Today I sharpened my pencil and did some number crunching on current market conditions in Arlington. Although there are some real estate markets that have felt a major impact from the current recession, Arlington Massachusetts isn’t one of them.

Arlington Real Estate Statistics as of September 2009

[More...]

In these swiftly changing times, it's hard to look at one month's worth of data and try to predict what's coming next. But if we look at three month's worth of data, usually considered a "trend," we begin to get a more clear picture of the direction of the market.

Here's what's happened with Single Family and Condo units in Arlington, MA from April 2009 through July 2009:

• Total April Sales (in units): 27
• Total July Sales (in units): 72

• Avg. Days on Market in April: 77
• Avg. Days on Market in July: 43

• Avg. Sales price, April: $441,992
• Avg. Sales price, July: $451,813

• Sales Price/List Price Ratio, April: 98%
• Sales Price/List Price Ratio, July: 99%

So what does this tell us? In short - the Arlington market is making a rebound. As you can sell, total number of sales increased 167% over the April to July period, while the average days on market fell by 56%. The average sales price increased by an overall 2% in the same period, while the SP:LP ratio increased to 99%, meaning the listing prices of homes are almost spot-on with market demand - so there's not much wiggle room for negotiating your price.

In short - NOW is a great time to buy while rates are still at historical lows, inventory is getting tighter and prices are starting to rebound.

So jump on in - the water's fine!

-TMC

I send out a quarterly newsletter to my favorite clients and I thought over the weekend, "Why not post it on here as well"? Each person who reads my posts and subscribes to my blog is also a valued client, so why shouldn't you also get the same benefit, right? So for your reading pleasure, and summer comfort, here's an article* I sent out in my Summer Quarterly newsletter this year. Enjoy! You can easily clean up bad indoor air quality at home with just a few lifestyle changes and adjustments in your air-quality management. According to the American Lung Association, here's how:

• The best way to freshen air is to clean up the source of odors and ventilate, such as running bathroom exhaust fans. Run fans that exhaust to the outside, such as those in the kitchen or bath, or open windows and place window fans to blow air out. Add ventilation when you use household cleaning products indoors.
• From cleansers to pet shampoos, some household cleaners leave behind harmful chemicals or give off gases that can irritate or harm your lungs. Read the small print on labels before purchasing any household chemical, including health and beauty products and air "fresheners." If the product has an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) number, the product is classified as a pesticide. But that doesn't mean it's safe. Labels like "organic" and "natural" do not mean a product is safe for everyone either.
• Don't be so quick to turn off exhaust fans in the bathroom or kitchen. They help remove both moisture and air pollutants. Install a quiet, low-energy model. The air inside your home, where you spend up to 95% of your time, can be two to five times more polluted than air outdoors.
• Change the way you clean. Dust mites are everywhere and they trigger allergic reactions ranging from sneezing to asthma attacks. A central vacuum cleaner vented to the outdoors is best, but a vacuum cleaner with a micro filter bag or High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter will also help remove allergens. If the "yuck" factor motivates you, consider this - dust mites feed on skin flakes. Yuck is right!
• Hard-surfaced floors like wood, tile, or linoleum are easier to clean that carpeted floors. Real hardwood flooring is a better deal - when it comes to breathing easy - than engineered wood products used in flooring, which can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Damp mopping or using a damp cloth to clean hard surfaces at least once a week is a better approach than "dry dusting," which just stirs up the mites and other particles.
• Relative humidity higher than 50% helps not only mold and dust mites thrive, but creepy cockroaches too! Another big Yuck!
• If someone in your family has allergies or asthma, it's important to encase their mattress and pillows in dust-proof or allergen-impermeable covers and replace wool or feather-stuffed bedding materials with synthetic materials. Wool or feather-stuffed bedding attracts more dust mites than synthetics.
• All combustion appliances that burn gas, oil or wood emit carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases. Properly installed appliances vent the fumes outside, but you should also have a carbon monoxide detector in your home and smoke alarms, installed as close to sleeping areas as possible. Remember, carbon monoxide alarms are now required in all Massachusetts' households and apartments.

Follow just a few of these simple steps and you, too, could be breathing easier this summer!

If you'd like to know more on this topic or other eco-friendly ideas related to real estate, housing, or the Massachusetts housing market, please visit my web site at CyberGreenRealty for more information.

Peace!

-TMC

*Bullet points courtesy of RE/MAX Life; written by Broderick Perkins copyright 2009